Ophthalmic mountings



April 29, 1958 A. DE ANGELIS ET AL' 2,832,250

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS Filed Jan. 7, 1954 1 2 Shets-Sheet l INVENTORSARMAND DE ANGELJS EDMUND DONALD HCNT' l7 BYNQRMAN s. ORENZO z:- 4 WApril 29, 1958 A. DE ANGELIS ET AL OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 7, l954 o E u m LOE EHR Y O E ub NEN. Q WD Na T mm A UM mmAEN w 0 1 6 l\ q 1 .8

Application January 7, 1954-, denial No. itlZf/Ed 5 Claims. (ill. thi-4i} This invention relates to improvements in ophthalmic mountings andhas particular reference to the provision of a mounting embodying a mainlens supporting structure having combined metallic and non-metallicparts interchangeably related with each other.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a mainadjustable lens supporting structure of metal which may be adjusted tothe requirements of different individuals and nor1-metallic trims ofcontrolled dilferent contour shapes and colors which may be removablyand interchangeably attached to the metallic supporting structure toalter the general appearance thereof with a View to obtaining difierentesthetical effects and a more pleasing blend of the mounting with theapparel to be worn with said mounting.

Another object is to provide a main metallic supporting structure andinterchangeable decorative trims of different contour shapes and colorsfor use with said structure, each of said trims having integrallyrelated connection means shaped to iuterfit with integral portions ofsaid structure in such manner tnat the trims will be firmly held on saidstructure without the requirement of additional separate connectionmeans.

Another object is to provide a mounting of the above character which isso constructed that the lenses may be removed from or placed in the lenssupporting rims of the mounting without having to disconnect and removethe detachable trims.

Another object is to provide a metallic mounting which is complete as todesign and structure and a plurality of trims of different contourshapes and colors so formed as to be detachably connected with themounting and which may be furnished in the form of a kit whereby thesaid mounting is capable of use either with or without said trims.

Another object is to provide a novel construction of detachable trimmounting wherein the trims do not conceal the bridge and endpieces ofthe main lens supporting structure of the mounting when posiu'onedthereon.

Another object is to provide a lens supporting frame of metallicmaterial embodying a pair of lens rims joined nasaily by a bridge memberand having temple endpieces with separable portions extending outwardlyof the temporal sides thereof, one of said separable portions having alip extending rearwardly of the other of said portions, and decorativetrims each having an intermediate portion channeled on the undersidethereof to receive the upper portion of the rims between the bridge andendpieces and having opposed depending end portions notched inwardly ofa side surface thereof, one of said notches being shaped to receive anend of the bridge and having a lower portion channeled inwardly in adirection substantially normal to the notch to receive a portion of therim beneath the bridge and the other of said notches being shaped toreceive the rearwardly extending lip with the lower wall of the notchedportion functioning as a latch extending beneath said lip, the side wallof the intermediate channeled portion overlying ti e rim on the side ofthe trim .in conventional manner.

2,832,260 Patented Apr. 29, 1958 i opposed to the bases of the notchedportions being adapted to function cooperatively to retain the trim inposition on the supporting structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts shown and describedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in theaccompanying claims. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to theexact details of construction and arrangement ofparts shown anddescribed as the preferred form only has been given by way ofillustration.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an ophthalmic mounting embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mounting shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the mounting;

Fig. 4- is a fragmentary bottom plan View of one of the temple endpiecesof the mounting;

Pig. 5 is an enlarged front perspective view of one of the decorativetrims looking from the nasal side toward the inner temporal side;

Fig. 6 is a view generally similar to Fig. 5 looking from the temporalside into the inner nasal side of the trim;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken as on line 7-7 of Fig. l andlooking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 8-8 ofFig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 9-9 ofFig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary exploded rear perspective View of the temporalside of the mounting.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters ofreference designate like parts through-- out the several views, the mainmetallic frame comprises a pair of lens rims beveled inwardly to receivethe lenses 12. The nasal sides of the rims ll are joined by a bridgemember .Li having outwardly tapering wedgeshaped end portions The widestends 15 of said wedge-shaped portions are secured to the front sidesurface of the rims by solder or the like. Secured to the temporal sidesof the rims, as by solder or the like, and extending outwardly thereofare endpieces 16. One of said endpicces and an adjacent portion of therims each having a front wedge-shaped shield-like portion 17 securedthereto by solder or the like is illustrated at 18. The endpieces 156are each proved with a hinge connection 19 to which temples 2b arepivotally connected The end cces 15 each comprise an upper relativelywide portion 21 and a relatively narrow lower portion adapted to abuteach other and having aligned openings therein for receiving anattachmerit screw 23, see Fig. 9. The opening in the upper portion 21 isthreaded to receive the threaded portion 24- of the screw while thelower portion 22 has a shouldered recess therein for receiving the headof the screw. The upper portion extends outwardly as illustrated at toprovide a shelf or lip rearwardly of the lower porti on The nasal sidesof the rims ii are provided with rearwardly extending nose supportingarms 26 which are secured thereto by soldering or the like and to whichsuitable nose pads 2'7 may be pivotally or rigidly attached as indicatedat 28. This arrangement provides a main metallic lens suppo'tingstructure which is complete in itself and which may be worn as is.However, the tapered uds of the bridge, upper portions of the rims andthe endpieces are so constructed that detachable non-metallic decorativetrims 29 may be attached thereto if desired.

Although only one shape of trim is shown and described, it is to beunderstood that many trims of different contour shapes and colors are tobe provided in so cordance with the invention. Each trim 29, however, iscontrolled dimensionally and structurally to fit properly with the ends14 of the bridge, the upper portions of the rims and the endpieces andto assume positive assembled relation therewith.

Each trim 29 is provided, in a side surface of the nasal end thereof,with a notch 3 3 having upper and lower side walls 33 and 32 shaped tostraddle a tapered end portion 14 of the bridge and to have a relativelyintimate fit therewith. Each trim 29, beneath the notch 30, has adepending portion 33 formed with a channel 3% disposed in substantiallynormal relation with the notch 39 and adapted to fit about a section ofthe rim 11 directly beneath the tapered end 14. The channel. 34 blendsinto a channel 35 formed in and throughout the length of theundersurface of the trim 29. The channel 35 is shaped to and is adaptedto intimately receive the upper section of the rim ii. The channel 355communicates with a notch 36 formed in the temporal end of the trim 29and which has its base 37 disposed in a plane spaced rearwardly of theplane of therear side wall fit; of the channel 35, see Figs. and 6.. Toenable this to be accomplished the temporal end of the trim 29 isprovided with a rearwardly extending portion 39 in which the notch 36 isformed. The notch 36, when the trim 2 is in fitted position upon theupper portion of the rim 11, is adapted to fit about the rearwardlyextending shelf or lip with the upper side wall 40 and the lower sideWall-41 thereof in relatively intimate relation therewith and with thebase 37 of the notch fitting relatively intimately with the rear edgesurface of said shelf or lip 25. The portion having the lower side wall41 forms a latch to secure the trim to the top of the mounting.

The front free edge surface 42 of the portion of the trim beneath theshelf or lip 25 lies slightly rearwardly of the rear Wall 38 of thechannel 35 and provides a space between said front edge surface 42 andthe rear surface of the shield-like portion l7 in which the lowerportion 22 of the endpiece may be fitted in intimate relation with theupper portion 21 of said endpiece. This arrangement permits the screw 23to be loosened and the endpiece portion 22 to be withdrawn from theendpiece portion 21 an amount sufficient to permit interchanging oflenses without requiring the detachment of the trim 29 from the mainmetallic supporting structure, as shown best in Figs. 9 and 10.

The channel 35 is controlled dimensionally to have its side walls 43 and4dfit in relatively intimate relation with the front and rear edgesurfaces of the rim i1 and to have the base 45 of said channel fit inrelatively intimate relation with the outer edge surface of the upperrim section 11 to substantially conceal said rim section in saidchannel.

The temporal end of the trim 29 is cut away, as illustrated at 46, toprovide clearance of the upper edge of the shield-like portion 17 and tohave a contour shape which follows substantially the upper edge shape ofsaid shield-like portion. 4

It is further pointed out that the upper inner wall 31 of the notch 3i)lies substantially in the plane of the base 45 of the channel 35 and thefront wall of the channel has an edge 47 curving upwardly and outwardlyto blend with said inner wall.

It is further pointed out that the said upper and lower wall portions3i. and 32 are shaped to the contour shape of the. upper and lower edgesof the end portions 14 of the bridge 13 and to have a relativelyintimate fit therewith.

The trims 29 are placed in assembled relation with the mounting by firstfitting the notched portion 3% of a trim about an end portion 14 of thebridge and drawing the end 33 and channeled portion 34 inwardly inoverlying relation with the portion of the rim directly beneath saidportion 14 The upper intermediate portion of the trim 29 is then forceddownwardly in overlying relation with the intermediate upper portion ofthe rim it. The temporal end of the trim having the notch 36 thereinthen fitted over the rearwardly extending lip 25 and is presseddownwardly and inwardly to cause the latch portion formed by the lowerwall 41 to snap beneath the lip 25 to lock the trim on the mounting.

It is particularly pointed out that when the trim.29 is in fittedposition on the mounting with the front wall 43 of the channel 35engaging the front edge surface of the rim section and with the bases ofthe notches 3i and 36 overlying the respective rear surfaces of thebridge and lip 25 the said front wall and bases of said notches willfunction cooperatively to retain the forwardly extending end 33 and theforwardly extending end 42 in latched position beneath said bridge andlip. This is in response to the inherent resilient characteristics ofthe non-metallic material from which the trims E are formed. To furtheraid in retaining the nasal end of the trim on the m0unting, the lowerend 33 is provided with an inner channel 34 which overlies the sectionof the rim directly beneath the bridge. This prevents the end portionhaving the notch 3t) therein from being free to move rearwardly relativeto the bridge and more positively retains the said end in attachedrelation with the bridge. The intimate fit of the channel 35 with theupper section of the rim further aids in positively retaining the trimin assembled relation with the mounting.

The shields 17 are secured by solder or the like only to the upperportions 2 1 of the endpieces whereby the lower relatively narrowportions 22 are free to move outwardly away from said upper portions Zllwhen the screws 23 are loosened. i

To detach the trims all that is necessary is to push the end portion 42rearwardly clear of the shelf or lip 25 where the remainder of the trimmay be easily pulled up and removed from the mounting.

It is pointed out that the outer contour of the trims may be varied asdesired,'that is, the outer shapes of the trims intermediate the notchedportions without interfering with the fit of the trims with the mountingprovided that the undersurface of the trims is retained to the contourshape of the rims and that the channel in said undersurface and thegeneral detailed construction of the notches in the nasal and temporalends of the trims are held dimensionally and structurally constant. Withthis arrangement trims of many different contour shapes and colors maybe provided and selected as desired for assembly with the main lenssupporting structure of the mounting and when attached thereto willretain a snug and positive fit therewith. v

It is further pointed out that the trims, as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6,have their opposed ends 4-3 and 49 tapering outwardly to relatively thinedges 59 and 51 whereby the said ends, when in attached relation withthe main lens supporting structure, will have a pleasing blend into theadjacent upper edge surfaces of the bridge and shieldlike portions 17.

Although the main lens supporting structure has been shown and describedas having lens rims which surround the entire contour of the lenses, itis to be understood that a lens supporting structure having onlysemi-rim portionsmay be employed if desired, that is, a structure havingin effect the lower portions of the rims removed as is common inpresent-day semi-rim structures. In this instance, however, the bridge,upper rim portions and temple endpieces will have a structure identicalto that of the mounting described above with the exception that assaseothe upper and lower portions of the endpiece would not of necessity haveto be divided and connected by a screw such as is required with thecontinuous rims. The rims, however, on the nasal sides thereof haveportions extending slightly downwardly below the ends of the bridge toprovide means with which the ends 33 having the inner channels 34therein may be latched. In all other respects the upper structure of thesemi-rim mounting and trims would be similar to the upper structure andtrims of the mounting described herein.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple, efficientand economical means have been provided to accomplish all of the objectsand advantages of the invention.

Having described our invention we claim:

1. An ophthalmic mounting comprising a pair of lenses, a central bridgeand a pair of lens rims on opposed sides thereof in which the lenses aremounted, each of said lens rims having a nasal portion secured to an endof said bridge, a temple hinge bearing member secured to a temporalportion of each lens rim and having a sidewise disposed shelf thereon,and a pair of separate readily detachable snap-on trims each having achannel on their underside to receive the upper portion of the mountingbetween the temple hinge bearing member and the end of the bridgeattached to said lens rim, said trims each terminating in a nasaldepending portion which extends along the nasal contour of the lens rima distance below the end of the bridge, said nasal depending portionhaving a slot in a side surface thereof at a location above thelowermost extension of said depending portion and cornmunicating withsaid channel, said slot being so located and of a shape to receive andleave exposed the major portion of the attached end of the bridge, andthe remaining part of said nasal depending portion extending below saidslot having a continuation of said channel and providing a lip whichextends towards and partially encircles the nasal part of the lens rimbelow said attached end of the bridge to catch therewith, and thetemporal end of said trims each terminating in an end part whichoverlies, in approximately flush relation therewith, the top surface ofthe temple hinge bearing member leaving a major portion of the sidesurface of said temple hinge bearing member exposed, said temporal endfurther having a depending portion which depends to one side of thetemple hinge bearing member and terminates in a sidewise disposed lipwhich may be forced under the sidewise disposed shelf of the templehinge bearing member to 'frictionally and releasably hold the trim inplace when the slot in said nasal portion of the trim is located on theattached end of the bridge and the lip on the nasal depending portion ofthe trim is caught about a nasal portion of the lens rims.

2. A lens supporting structure embodying a central bridge and a pair ofencircling lens rims on opposed sides thereof each having a nasalportion secured to an end of said bridge, said lens rims being dividedon their temporal side, a temple hinge bearing member secured to theupper one of said divided ends and extending outwardly therefrom, a lugsecured to the other of said divided ends and adapted to be detachablyconnected to the temple hinge bearing member to releasably hold lensesin place in the lens rims, said temple hinge bearing member hav ing apart extending outwardly to one side of the extent of the lug to serveas a catch, and a pair of separate readily detachable snap-on trims eachhaving a channel on their underside to receive the upper section of arespective lens rim between the temple hinge bearing memher and the endof the bridge attached to said lens rim, said trims each terminating ina nasal depending portion which extends along the nasal contour of thelens rim a distance below the end of the bridge, said nasal dependingportion having a slot in a side surface thereof at a location above thelowermost extension of said depending portion and communicating withsaid channel, said slot being so located and of a shape to receive saidattached end of the bridge and leave the major portion of a side surfacethereof exposed and the remaining part of said nasal depending portionextending below said slot having a continuation of said channel andproviding a lip which extends towards and partially encircles the nasalpart of the lens rim below said attached end of the bridge to catchtherewith, and the temporal end or" said trims terminating in an endpart which overlies, in approximately flush relation therewith, the topsurface of the temple hinge bearing member leaving the major portion ofa side surface of said temple hinge bearing member exposed, saidtemporal end further having a depending portion which depends along oneside of said temple hinge bearing member and terminates in a sidewisedisposed lip which may be forced under the mentioned catch formed on thetemple hinge bearing member to frictionally and releasably hold the trimin place when the attached end of the bridge is in the slot providedtherefor in the side surface of the nasal depending portion of the trimand the lip below said slot is assembled with the nasal part of the rim,and said sidewise disposed lip on the temporal side of the trim being sodimensioned as to obtain its function while being sufficiently spacedfrom the lug to permit separation and attachment of said lug with thetemple hinge bearing member so as to allow the ready removal andinsertion of lenses in the lens rims without removal of the trims.

3. A lens supporting structure embodying a central bridge and a pair ofencircling lens rims on opposed sides thereof each having a nasalportion secured to an end of said bridge, said lens rims being dividedon their temporal side, a temple hinge bearing member secured to theupper one of said divided ends and extending out-- wardly therefrom, aperforated lug secured to the other of said divided ends and alignedbeneath only a portion of said temple hinge bearing member, said templehinge bearing member having a threaded aperture in alignment with theperforation in said lug by means of which a screw extended through theperforation in the lug may be threadedly connected to the temple hingebearing member to hold lenses in place in the lens rims, said templehinge bearing member having a part extending rearwardly of the extent ofthe lug to serve as a catch, and a pair of separate readily detachablesnapon trims each having a channel on their underside to receive theupper section of a respective lens rim between the temple hinge bearingmember and the end of the bridge attached to said lens rim, said trimseach terminating in a nasal depending portion which extends along thenasal contour of the lens rim a substantial distance below the end ofthe bridge, said nasal depending portion having a slot extendinginwardly of the front side surface thereof at a location above thelowermost extension of said depending portion and communicating withsaid channel, said slot being so located and of a shape to receive andleave exposed the front surface of the attached end of the bridge, andthe remaining part of said nasal depending portion extending below saidslot having a continuation of said channel and providing a lip on theforward side thereof extending toward and which catches with the nasalpart of the lens rim below said attached end of the bridge, and thetemporal end of said trims terminating in an end part which overlies, inapproximately flush relation therewith, the top surface of the templehinge bearing member leaving the major portion of the front surface ofsaid temple hinge bearing member exposed, said temporal end furtherhaving a depending portion on its rear side which, with respect to thegeneral plane of the channel in said trim, is disposed substantiallyentirely rearwardly thereof, said depending portion having a slot in itsforward surface shaped to receive the catch formed on the temple hingebearing member and to provide a forwardly extending lip which, by reasonof the inherent resiliency of the material of the trim, may be forcedunder the mentioned catch formed on the temple hinge bearing member tofrictionally and releasably hold the trim in place when the slotextending inwardly of the front side of the nasal depending portion ofthe trim is in position on the attached end of the bridge and the lip onthe nasal depending portion of the trim catches with a nasal portion ofthe lens rims, and said forwardly extending lip on the temporal side ofthe trim being so dimensioned as to obtain said function while beingsufficiently spaced from the perforated lug to permit, on loosening ofthe mentioned screw, separation and attachment of said perforated lug tothe temple hinge bearing member to permit ready removal and insertion oflenses in the lens rims without removal of the trims.

4. A lens supporting structure embodying a central bridge, a pair ofencircling lens rims on opposed sides thereof each having a nasalportion secured to an end a of said bridge, nose bearing means securedto said lens rims on their nasal sides at a point spaced below saidsecurement of the end of the bridge with the lens rims, said lens rimsbeing divided on their temporal side, a

temple hinge bearing member secured to the upper one of said dividedends, a perforated lug secured to the other of said divided ends, saidtemple hinge bearing member having a threaded aperture in alignment withthe perforation in said lug, a screw extendable through the perforationin the lug and threadedly counectable into the aperture of the templehinge bearing member to releasably retain lenses within said lens rims,said temple hinge bearing member having a part extending rearwardly ofthe extent of the lug to serve as a catch, and a pair of separatereadily detachable snap-on trims of inherently resilient plasticmaterial each having a channel extending longitudinally on theirunderside to receive the upper section of a respective lens rim betweenthe temple hinge bearing member and the end of the bridge attached tosaid lens rim, said trims each terminating in a nasal depending portionwhich extends to a point between the end of the bridge and where thenose bearing means is secured to the lens rim, said nasal dependingportion having a slot in the front side surface thereof communicatingwith said channel, said slot being of a shape to receive and leaveexposed the major portion of the front side surface of the attached endof the bridge, and the remaining part of said nasal depending portionbelow said slot having a continuation of said channel to provide a lipon the forward side thereof which extends towards and partiallyencircles the nasal part of the lens rim between the end of the bridgeand attachment of the nose bearing means to catch therewith, and thetemporal end of said trims terminating in an end part which overlies thetop surface of the temple hinge bearing member and further has adepending portion which is disposed rearwardly ofthe temple hingebearing member and terminates in a forward-1y extending lip which may bythe inherent resiliency of the material of the trim be forced under thecatch formed on the temple hinge bearing member to frictionally andreleasably hold the trim in place when the slot extending inwardly ofthe front side of the nasal depending portion of the trim is in positionon the attached end of the bridge and the lip on the nasal dependingportion of the trim is caught with a nasal portion of the lens rims, andsaid forwardly extending lip being so dimensioned as to obtain saidfunction, while being sufficiently spaced from the perforated lug topermit, on loosening of the mentioned screw, separation and attachmentof said perforated lug to the temple hinge bearing member to permitready removal and insertion of lenses in the lens rims without removalof the trims.

5. A readily detachable snap-on type decorative trim for a lenssupporting structure of an ophthalmic mounting which is characterized bya pair of encircling lens rims each having a nasal portion secured to anend of an intermediate bridge and having temple hinge bearing memberssecured to temporal portions thereof, said decorative trim comprising arelatively long and slender member provided with a channel in itsunderside to receive the upper section of a respective lens rim betweenthe temple hinge bearing member and the end of the bridge attached tosaid lens rim, said trim terminating in a nasal depending portion whichis shaped to extend along the nasal contour of the lens rim asubstantial distance below the end of the bridge, said nasal dependingportion having a slot in thte front side surface thereof at a locationabove the lowermost extension of said depending portion andcommunicating with said channel, said slot being so located and of ashape to receive and leave exposed the major portion of the frontsurface of the attached end of the bridge, and the remaining part ofsaid nasal depending portion extending below said slot having acontinuation of said channel and providing a lip which is shaped toextend toward and which will partially encircle the nasal part of thelens rim below said attached end of the bridge to catch therewith, andthe temporal end of said trim terminating in an end part which willoverlie the top surface of the temple hinge bearing member leaving themajor portion of the front surface of said temple hinge bearing memberexposed, said temporal end further having a depending portion on itsrear side which, with respect to the general plane of the channel insaid trim, is disposed substantially entirely rearwardly thereof, saiddepending portion having a slot in its forward surface shaped to receivea portion of the temple hinge bearing member and so provide a forwardlyextending lip which, by reason of the inherent resiliency of thematerial of the trim, may be forced under said portion of the templehinge bearing member to frictionally and releasably hold the trim inplace on a respective lens rim when the slot extending inwardly of thefront side of the nasal depending portion of the trim is in position onthe attached end of the bridge and the lip on the nasal dependingportion of the trim is caught with a nasal portion of the lens rims.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,301,101 Carson Apr. 22, 1919 2,284,630 Banks June 2, 1942 2,482,195Martin Sept. 20, 1949 2,577,380 Stegeman Dec. 4, 1951 2,599,463 LambJune 3, 1952 2,703,036 Splaine Mar. 1, 1955 2,712,774 Belgard July 12,1955

